New House rules make it easier to remove speaker

New rules adopted today for the Texas House make it clear that members can remove the House speaker.

Changing the way members can remove their leader follows a bitter dispute two years ago when then-Speaker Tom Craddick asserted “absolute authority” to keep his job. Craddick, R-Midland, refused to recognize any motion calling for a vote on his ouster. Many members were irate that they could not recall the power they gave to the speaker. Craddick’s relationship with members steadily deteriorated during his three terms, with several of his own lieutenants abandoning him two years ago.

New operating rules for the House would allow members to force a vote on removing the speaker with 76 signatures from the 150 members.